Dickey the focus of Mets' agenda at Meetings

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- David Wright may have agreed to a shiny new contract extension, but that was just one item on the Mets' winter agenda. In a way, it's actually the unofficial beginning of their Hot Stove season, because the team can now turn its attention fully to R.A. Dickey and the rest of its offseason issues.

General manager Sandy Alderson and his staff will spend their time at the Winter Meetings this week continuing to work on a contract extension for Dickey, while also attempting to plug holes in their outfield, at catcher and in the bullpen. And MLB.com will chronicle every piece of Alderson's plan as it falls into place at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

Don't underestimate the speed and magnitude of what teams can accomplish at the Winter Meetings, when all 30 GMs and scores of agents descend upon the same hotel for the better part of a week. Last year, Alderson made his three most significant offseason moves in the span of about an hour at the Meetings in Dallas, acquiring three bullpen arms and an outfielder.

This year, his priorities are even more specific. The Mets will look to continue negotiating with Dickey, and those talks could accelerate rapidly if the Nashville native shows his face at the Meetings. They will also meet with various agents as they try to acquire at least one impact outfielder, a right-handed catcher and a middle reliever or two. Trades remain a possibility as well.

Manager Terry Collins will also be in attendance and is scheduled to address the media Monday at 6 p.m. ET. No doubt he will relay his thoughts on Dickey, as well as further talk of whether he envisions Wright as a team captain. MLB.com will chronicle every word of it.

The Meetings close Thursday with the Rule 5 Draft, which always seems to find the Mets in the middle of it. Remember Brad Emaus two years ago? Or last year, when the Mets lost Rhiner Cruz to the Astros with the first overall pick? Such moves can ultimately prove significant.

So stay tuned to Mets.com all week for coverage of the Meetings and to MLB.com for plenty more from around the baseball world. Fans are encouraged to use the comment box to relay their own views of how the Mets' offseason is unfolding -- and there should be plenty of material to discuss.

In that regard, rarely do the Winter Meetings disappoint.

Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDicomo. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.